Shank-stiffener machine



(No Model.)

N.G.RUBERG. f SHANK STIFPBNER MACHINE. No. 542,032.

Patented July 2, 1896.

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ATENT OFFICE.

NELSON C. RUBERG, OF EAST BRIDGEWATER, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE SUFFOLK SHANK COMPANY, OF PORTLAND, MAINE.

SHANK-STIFFENER MACHINE.

SPECIFIGATIONforming part of Letters Patent No. 542,032, dated July 2, 1895.

Application filed August 15, 1892. Serial No. 443,174. (No model.)

To all whom it may cmwern:

Be it known that I, NELSON O. RUBERG, a citizen of the United States, residing at East Bridgewater, in the county of Plymouth and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shank-Stiffener Machines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

' My invention has for its object to provide an improved device for manufacturing metal shanks, or, more properly, shank-stiffeners, forboots or shoes; and it consists chiefly in the device hereinafter more fully described for bending the shanks after they arecut and in the adaptation and arrangement of said device to a shank-machine'of common construction, all as hereinafter set forth.

The novel features of myinvention are pointed out in the claims which are appended hereto and form a part hereof.

In the accompanying drawings, to which reference will be made in the following description,Figure 1 is a side elevation, par tially broken away, of a shank-machine embodying my improvement. Fig. 2 is an elevation of thesame, viewed from the right of Fig. 1. Figs. 3 and 4 are a rear and side elevation, respectively, of the bending device enlarged. Fig. 5 is a sectional view showing the form q and its spring-actuated pin.

Referring to the drawings, A is the frame of the machine, which may be of any suitable form and construction.

Bis the main shaft journaled, preferably, in the upper part of the frame and fitted with the usual balance-wheel and with pulleys, by which power may be applied.

0 is a cross-head arranged to slide vertically between the uprights of the frame and reciprocated by means of suitable connections with eccentrics or cams on the main shaft in the well-known manner.

The upper knife cl is rigidly secured to the cross-head and is adapted to co-operate with the lower knife e, which is secured to a crosspiece or block placed between the sides of the frame and firmly secured in place in any suitable manner.

Feed-rolls f g, of well-known construction, are employed, which are geared together and which are operated intermittently by means of a ratchet-wheelj, secured on the shaft of one of said rolls. The ratchet j is provided with a pawl 70, pivoted to an arm Z, which is pivoted on the shaft of the said wheel j. The free end of the arm Z is pivoted to a connection m, which is pivoted at the upper end to an adjustable crank-pin n on the hub of the balance-Wheel. The crank-pin is arranged to slide in a slot 19 in the hub of said wheel, and may be set at any point in said slot, so that the throw of the crank, and consequently the length of the feed, may be varied as desired. By this mechanism the strip of metal, which is of a width equal to the length of the shank desired, from which the shanks are cut, may be fed forward intermittently to the cutting mechanism. After the shanks are severed from the strip they require to be bent lengthwise to give them the proper curve or curves from end to end.

To enable shanks of various lengths to be properly curved and to be given any of the various curves required, I provide the following mechanism: Behind the lower knife I secure a block or form q, the top of which is rounded or curved in a manner approximating the curves of a shank. A yoke-shaped bending device D, consisting of a block 7' and two downwardly and outwardly projecting arms 15, is mounted behind the upper knife on the lower end of a vertical supporting-rod 10, which passes through a vertical hole in the crosshead C andis free to slide therein. The upper end of the rod w is forked to accommodate the cam a and each fork is slotted to accommodate the shaft B. The rod is in contact with the periphery of the cam and at each revolution thereof the rod is moved downwardly. A spiral spring I) is secured at its upper end to the rod and bears at its lower end on the upper edge of the cross-head. This spring serves to move the rod w upwardly as soon as the projection of the cam which forces the rod downwardly passes the fork of the rod. It will be clear that by this arrangement of mechanism the bending device will be reciprocated vertically independently of the movement of the cross-head C.

Near the extremities of the arms 15 of the bending device are horizontal slots d, in

which the arms or bolts f are set by means of check-nuts, as shown, or in any Well-known manner. justment of the arms f to suit shanks of different lengths. The arms f may also be horizontally adjusted, as will be clear, toward or from the cutters.

When the shank-strip is fed forward, the projecting end of the strip, which is to be severed to form a shank at the next descent of the upper cutter, lies directly beneath the inner ends of the armsf. As the cutter severs the shank, the arms or bolts f bear upon it and as soon as it is severed press it against the rounded top of the form q. The continued downward movement'of the bending device forces the ends of the shank downwardly, bending it over the form and giving it the desired curve or curves. In this way a shank may be given one curve from end to end or it may be curved centrally and reversely curved at both ends or at only one I end, these curves being obtained by ditterent lateral adjustments of the bolts f. After a shank is bent the bending device Dis moved upwardly by the spring I), and a spring-impelled pin h, which is set in a Vertical socket in the top of the form q, operates to raise the The slots permit of the lateral ad finished shank into line with the shank-strip, so that at the next forward movement of the strip the finished shank is shoved off the form and falls clear of the machine.

What I claim is V 1. A shank machine comprising cutters for detaching successively the strips of which the shanks are formed, a form adjacent to the cutters and over which the end of the feed strip projects during the cutting operation, a yoke having independent actuating devices,

and bending arms on said yoke to engage the opposite ends of the strip and bend it over the form, substantially as described.

2. A shank machine comprising cutters for detaching successively the strips of which the shanks are formed, a form, and a reciprocating yoke having bending arms mounted on the opposite sides thereof and made adjustable on the yoke to suit Various lengths of shanks, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affiX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

NELSON O. RUB-ERG. WVitnesses:

WM. A. MACLEOD, R. WALLACE. 

